Civil War reenactments are as popular now as they have ever been, and — odd though it may seem — they are no longer solely the province of white Southerners clinging to the “lost cause.” What does the changing demographic of participants in historical interpretations say about the way we learn and think about history? What do reenactments and reenactors teach us about our history, our present and what can we do to further our progress?
Over the last few years, the climate of reenacting and historical interpretation in the South has evolved and diversified. Perhaps most importantly, more African-Americans engage with Southern history through reenactment and want to be a part of how it is interpreted and used.
Pat Jarrett, whose photographs accompany this story, first met Louis L. Carter Jr. at the 150th anniversary of Appomattox, when he made a photo of him right before the moment in the reenactment when Gen. Robert E. Lee dismounts Traveller and hands over his saber. Carter, who lives in Washington, D.C., reenacts as Sgt. Maj. Christian Fleetwood, a free man of color who enlisted in the 4th Regiment of the United States Colored Infantry. Fleetwood was awarded the U.S. Medal of Honor in 1865 because of his valor and courage during the Battle of New Market Heights.
Carter believes a Civil War reenactor’s goal should be to educate and to explain what actually happened and then to illustrate how that affects this country today. He says his personal role as a black Civil War soldier is to teach the public about the lifestyle, military service and general values through accurate and authentic presentations. Of course, there are many more white reenactors than African-American, just like there were more white soldiers 150 years ago. Carter asserts that the best outcome of a reenactment would be that the public is prouder of who they are and that their ancestors helped to make this great country. Most importantly, when he reenacts, he is given the chance to correct history and to tell the forgotten or untold American stories.
Carter believes that when these more difficult parts of history are overlooked, the South and the U.S. at large is held back. Carter calls slavery “our American Holocaust” and says that his regiment reenacts to initiate conversation about that.
Unfortunately, much of the historical interpretation and reenactment of the Civil War glosses over slavery. Some of the worst and most violent episodes are left out to preserve the so-called honor and reputation of the Confederate dead. But this timeworn narrative is now being turned on its head by reenactors like Gates and his regiment, along with other individuals and groups who are investing their time and money into this hobby so history it portrays includes more diverse narratives.